Finding the right chorus
The most difficult task in this song was to find an adequate chorus. The chorus is sung often in Quebec as a separate song to mark someone’s birthday, substituting the name of the person instead of “gens du pays”. I thought of inventing something specifically with that in mind, even though it departs from the original, hence the idea “we celebrate you…”
Since the song is also recognized as a Quebec “national anthem”, I like the idea of ending the song with the chorus in French as well.
Several possibilities occurred to me as a closer translation of the chorus. The one I have chose to use is “Let yourself be spoke of love”. Normally in English, it would be “spoken”, but that doesn’t fit the rhythm. “Be spoke” is actually a more archaic form in English. It works neatly as far as I am concerned.
Here are a few more possibilities for the chorus. Any comments would be appreciated as to what works best.
People of mine, you turn has come
To let yourself receive our love
To let us share with you our love
To let us speak to you of love
Gens du pays
par Gilles Vigneault
Le temps qu’on a pris pour dire : Je t’aime
C’est le seul qui reste au bout de nos jours.
Les voeux que l’on fait
Les fleurs que l’on sème;
Chacun les récolte en soi-même,
Aux beaux jardins du temps qui court.
Gens du pays, c’est votre tour
De vous laisser parler d’amour
Gens du pays, c’est votre tour
De vous laisser parler d’amour
Le temps de s’aimer, le jour de le dire
Fond comme la neige aux doigts du printemps.
Fêtons de nos joies! Fêtons de nos rires!
Ces yeux où nos regards se mirent…
C’est demain que j’avais vingt ans.
Gens du pays, c’est votre tour
De vous laisser parler d’amour
Gens du pays, c’est votre tour
De vous laisser parler d’amour
Le ruisseau des jours aujourd’hui s’arrête
Et forme un étang où chacun peut voir
Comme en un miroir, l’amour qui reflète
Pour ces coeurs à qui je souhaite
Le temps de vivre nos espoirs!
Gens du pays, c’est votre tour
De vous laisser parler d’amour
Gens du pays, c’est votre tour
De vous laisser parler d’amour
People of my Country
“Faithful” translation by John Lejderman
The time that we take, saying “I love you”
Is all that remains at the end of our days
The vows that we make
The flowers that we sow
We harvest them within
Among the splendid gardens of time’s flow.
People of my country, your turn has come
To let love speak to you
People of my country, your turn has come
To let love speak to you
The time to love each other, and the day to say it,
Melt like the snow touched by spring.
Celebrate our joys, celebrate our laughter
Our eyes meeting in embrace
Tomorrow I was only twenty.
People of my country, your turn has come
To let love speak to you
People of my country, your turn has come
To let love speak to you
The stream of our days, today comes to a pause
And forms into a pool where everyone can see
As if it were a mirror, the love that it reflects,
For those hearts to whom I wish
The time to live out all our hopes.
People of my country, your turn has come
To let love speak to you
People of my country, your turn has come
To let love speak to you
People of Mine
Rhyming adaptation by John Lejderman
The time that we take, saying “I love you”
Is all that we have left, at the end of our days
The promises we gave
The flowers that we grew
Inside of each of us they bloom
In the fragrant gardens on our way.
People of mine, your turn has come
To let yourself be spoke of love
People of mine, your turn has come
To let yourself be spoke of love
The care that we show, the love that we confess
Melt away the snow, like the touch of the sun.
Celebrate our joys, the life with which we’re blessed
The meeting of our eyes in happiness.
Celebrate today I’m growing young.
People of mine, we celebrate you
And hope that your dreams may soon come true
People of mine, we celebrate you
And hope that your dreams may soon come true
The stream of our years, settles down today
Allowing each to see, as in a silent pool
Reflecting like a mirror, the love we give away
To those hearts for whom I pray
That all our hopes may soon come true
Gens du pays, c’est votre tour
De vous laisser parler d’amour
Gens du pays, c’est votre tour
De vous laisser parler d’amour
I love the work you did on this piece. I am a French tutor and love to share this pieces with the students, but it is so hard to translate. Thank you for this.
Thanks very much for your feedback.
It is indeed a tough song to translate. The first line should be “le temps qu’on a pris” though; passé composé, not present tense.
You’re right, that is what he sings in the video, but maybe there is more than one version. See here: https://laboiteauxparoles.com/titre/82864/gens-du-pays. But I corrected it anyway. Thanks.